Shoe tree



W. J. DE.' W ITT SHOE TREE Filed Feb. 8, 1954 lik Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATS SHOE TREE William J. De Witt, Auburn,

Shoe Form Co., Inc., tion of New York N. Y., assignor to Auburn, N. Y., a corpora- This invention relates to an improvement in a shoe tree by which the walls of a shoe are yieldably held plumped out in substantially the position taken when the shoe is on the foot of A the wearer.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a shoe tree having a toe element adapted to enter the toe of a shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of a shoe and an intermediate element connected to both the toe element and the heel element and so constructed and arranged that both toe and heel elements are yieldably separated to the limit .determined by the shoe. y

A further object of this invention is to provide a shoe tree having a toe form, including side walls which may be expanded or contracted and means for yieldably holding the walls expanded against the toe of the shoe.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoe horn having longitudinally extending corrugations therein, such horn being applicable for use in a shoe tree as a heel plate.

Other objects will appear from a consideration of the following description and of the drawing which forms a part thereof and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in cross section of a shoe in which a shoe tree, embodying this invention has been placed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of such shoe tree;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on an enlarged sc-ale of the intermediate element of the shoe tree;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 of such unit;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View illustrating the use of a shoe horn employed as a heel element for a shoe tree;

Fig. 6fis an end View of such shoe horn;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the toe portion of a shoe tree embodying another form of this invention; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross section thereof taken along vthe line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

The shoe tree illustrated in the drawing comprises atoe element, shown as a toe form Il), an intermediate element, shown as a block unit 20, and aheel element, shown as a heel plate 30, the form IU and plate .30 being connected to the unit20 by rods.

The toe from I may be of celluloid, metal or side walls H which terminate in bottom anges I 2 from which plates i3 and I4 project inwardly.

other inherently exible material and comprises The plates Aoverlie each other and are provided with pairs of inclined slots l and i6 respectively, a portion of each slot l5 registering with a portion of a slot i6. The plates i3 and I4 are secured to the bottom anges by rivets il, one plate, here shown as single rivet and the other plate, in the present instance the upper plate 14, by two rivets. Pins i8 carried by a strap I9 pass through the slots, each pin passing through a slot l5 of one plate and a slot i6 of the other plate. Fig. l the inclinations of both slots i5 are similar and the same is true of the slots i6, however, the inclinations of the slots l5 are at an angle to those of the slots it. Hence the advance or retraction of the strap I9 causes the expansion or 1 contraction of the side walls Il.

The unit 29 includes a U-shaped housing 2| having a longitudinally extending groove 22 in each side wall near the top of the housing and a row of holes 23 in each side wall below the 20 groove, such holes being preferably arranged as shown in Fig. 3 so that each row is parallel to the groove above it. In each groove 22 near the rear end thereof is a slot 24. The unit is connected to the toe form by a pair of rods 25 which 2,5

rest in the grooves 22 and are pivotally secured at one end to the strap 19 here shown as by a loop 25 integral with the strap. The end 2l of one rod 25 is bent at right angles through the slots 2li (see Fig. 2) and is soldered or otherwise 3Q secured to the end of the other rod. A spring 28 in the housing attached at one end to the bent end 2l of the rod and at the other end to a tongue at the forward ends of the slots 24.

'I'he heel plate 30 is shown in the forrn of a shoe horn provided with a strap Si, xed to the y plate below the centre thereof. Rods 32, pivotally secured to the plate 3@ by a loop 33 in the strap connect the plate and the shown the rods 32 are integrally joined at one end and form the legs of a U-shaped member. Tips 34 at the other ends of the rod, bent at right angles toward each other, are adapted to 45 enter any pair of holes 23 in the unit 20.

When the shoe tree is used the toe form i0 is iirst inserted in the toe of the shoe and the heel plate 3@ placed against the heel counter. The pair of holes 23 which receive the tips 34 of the A heel plate rods 32 have been so selected that the 50 unit 2li will not easily enter the shoes, a condition permitted by the pivotal connections of the rods 25 and 32 with the toe form and heel plate respectively. Under pressure applied to the unit 20 the unit is forced to take the position shown 55 the lower plate i3, by a 5v As indicated in 10* 2S yieldably holds the ends of the rods 35 unit. As here in Fig. 1, the spring 28 and slot 24 permitting the rods 25 to move backwards in the grooves 22. The spring however yieldably forces the rods 25 to advance the strap i9 and thereby through the pins i8 and slots l5 and I6 in the plates I5 and l5, to expand the side walls of the toe form until the toe of the shoe has been properly plumped out. The rods 321 are so inclined that the unit is held in the position shown in Fig. 1 and pressure is exerted upon the heel counter of the shoe below the upper edge thereof. It will be noted that the unit 25 and the rods 25 and 32 have a toggle action and that, when the unit 25 is raised above the point at which the toggle is made, the spring 28 acts to advance the rods 25 along the grooves 22. When the toe form is inserted in the shoe the unit 25 is usually grasped so that an expansion of the side walls will take place before the shoe tree reaches its nal position in the shoe. The shoe tree may be collapsed by drawing the heel plate out of the shoe, a movement facilitated by the pivotal joinder of the rods 32 to bot-h the plate and the unit.

The end of the heel plate 3B above the strap is here shown longer than the lower end and may, as shown in Fig. 5, be used to facilitate the introduction of the heel into a shoe. This upper end is provided with longitudinally extending corrugations 35. Such corrugations have value for several reasons: First, they stiften the body of the plate so that thinner material can be used. Second, they permit the shaping of the plate to the shoe. Third, they reduce the amount of friction between the heel of the foot and the body of the horn.

Figs. 7 and 8 disclose the toe portion of a shoe tree whichl differs in certain respects from that previously described. The toe form 40 which is the toe element of this shoe tree corresponds in construction and material to the toe form I5 and has side walls which terminate in bottom flanges 42. Overlying plates 43 and 44 project inwardly from these anges and are provided with inclined slots 45 and 45. The plates are secured to the flanges and to each other by rivets 41. It will be noted that the arrangement of rivets shown in Fig. 7 permits a pivotal movement of both the plates. A pin 48 carried by a strap 49 extends through the slots and as the strap is advanced or retracted by means of the rods 55 which are the only part of the intermediate element shown, the side walls of the toe form are expanded or contracted.

The intermediate element of this shoe tree is identical with the corresponding element of the shoe tree first described except as to the forward tips of the rods 55 and hence only the forward ends oi the rods are here shown. The strap 49 is attached to the plates as shown particularly in Fig. 8 by the pin 48 so that it is free to swing about such pin as a pivo-t. Two opposite ends of the strap 48 are bent upwardly to form ears 5i] having openings 5! therein which receive the outturned ends 52 of the rods 55. The openings 5l are arranged in pairs along the ears so that the relation of the rods and strap may be adjusted as desired.

It will be understood that this invention is .not limited to the constructions specically shown and described and that changes may be made in the various elements and other features without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of the shoe, an intermediate element and rods pivotally secured to said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, the connecting rods pivotally secured to one of the toe or heel elements being pivotally secured to said intermediate element-and the connecting vrods pivotally-'secured to the other of said elements being slidably sel cured to said intermediate element.

2. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe lof the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of the shoe, an interme- 1 diate element and rods pivotally secured to said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, said toe element being a toe form having expansible and contractible side walls and a strap to which the 2 rods are pivoted and by which the side walls are expanded and contracted as the toe element is irlilserted into and withdrawn from the toe of the s oe.

3. A shoe tree adapted to yplump `out 'a shoe 4comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear'agains't the heel counter of the shoe, an intermediate lelement and rods pivotally secured to lsaid toe and heel elements and connecting saidelements to said intermediate element, said 'toe' `element being a toe form having expansible and contractible side walls, overlapping plates lprojecting inwardly from said side walls and having :inclined slots in the overlapping portions, 'and a strap to which the rods are pivoted, said strap including pins which pass through the slots iin the plates, whereby the side walls are expanded and contracted as the toe element is inserted into and withdrawn from the toe of the shoe. v

Li. A shoe tree adapted to plump vout a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enterthietoe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to fbear against the heel counter of the shoe, an "intermediate element and rods pivotally secured to 45 said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, 'said intermediate element being a housing having l'ongitudinally extending slots in which the .toe element rods slide, and a spring yieldably holding said rods at one end of said slots.

5. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a :shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to .bear .5,

against the heel counter of the shoe, an intermediate element and rods pivotally secured to said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, said .in-

termediate element being a housing having .lon- 8o gitudinally extending slots in which the toe element rods slide and a spring yieldably holding said rods at the forward ends of said slots.

6. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to venter '.the.- toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted tobear against the heel counter of the shoe, .an intermediate element and rods pivotally secured to said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, said 'intermediate element being a housing having inits side walls longitudinally extending slots in which the toe element rods slide, and a spring within said housing yieldably holding said rods at the forward ends of said slots.

'7. A shoe tree adapted to plump out 'a shoe 7 comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of the shoe, an intermediate element and rods pivotally secured to said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, said intermediate element being a housing having longitudinally extending slots in which the toe element rods slide, a spring yieldably holding said rods at one end of said slots and rows of holes adapted to receive the ends of the heel element rods.

8. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of the shoe, an intermediate element and rods pivotally secured to said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, said intermediate element being a housing having in its s ide walls longitudinally extending slots in which the toe element rods slide, a spring within said housing yieldably holding said rods at the forward ends of said slots, and rows of holes in said side walls parallel to said slots and adapted to receive the ends of the heel element rods.

9. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of the shoe, an intermediate element and rods pivotally secured to said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, said intermediate element being a U-shaped housing having in its side walls longitudinally extending grooves in which the toe element rods rest A and are free to slide, slots in said grooves at the rearward ends thereof adapted to receive said rods and a spring within said housing yieldably holding the ends of said rods at the forward ends of said slots.

10. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of the shoe, an intermediate element and rods pivotally secured to said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, said in termediate element having a U-shaped housing having in its side walls longitudinally extending grooves in which the toe element rods rest and are free to slide, slots in said grooves at the rearward ends` thereof adapted to receive said rods, a spring within said housing yieldably holding the ends of said rods at the forward ends of said slots and rows of holes in said side walls parallel to said grooves and adapted to receive the ends of the heel element rods.

11. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of the shoe, an intermediate element and rods pivotally secured to said toe and heel elements and connecting said elements to said intermediate element, said in- 5 termediate element having a U-shaped housing having in its side walls longitudinally extending grooves in which the toe element rods rest and are free to slide, slots in said grooves at the rearward ends thereof adapted to receive 10 said rods, a spring within said housing yieldably holding the ends of said rods at the forward ends of said slots and rows of holes in said side walls parallel to said grooves and adapted to receive the ends of the heel element rods, said 15 rows being below said grooves.

12. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of the shoe, an inter- 20 mediate element, pivotal connections between said intermediate element and said toe and heel elements, said toe element being a toe form having expansible and contractible side walls which terminate in bottom flanges, slotted plates secured 25 to said flanges, and means in the slots of the plates to which the connection from the intermediate element to the toe element is secured whereby the side walls are expanded and contracted as the toe element is inserted into and 30 withdrawn from the toe of the shoe.

13. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against the heel counter of the shoe, an inter- 35 mediate element, pivotal connections between said intermediate element and said toe and heel elements, said toe element being a toe form having expansible and contractible side Walls, and plates secured to said side walls to which the 40 connection from the intermediate element to the toe element is secured whereby the side walls are vexpanded and contracted as the toe element is inserted into and withdrawn from the toe of the shoe. 4,5 14. A shoe tree adapted to plump out a shoe comprising a toe element adapted to enter the toe of the shoe, a heel element adapted to bear against` the heel counter of the shoe, an intermediate element, pivotal connections between said 50 intermediate element and said toe and heel elements, said toe element being a toe form having expansible and contractible side walls, and plates secured to said side Walls to which the connection from the intermediate element to the toe ele- 55 ment is secured, and said intermediate element including a spring by which the heel and toe elements are normally held a predetermined distance apart.

WILLIAM J. DE WITT. m 

